HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair announced the promotion of Connie Schmitt to Industry Relations and Development Director, effective July 1, 2018.

In this new role, Schmitt will be responsible for increasing the fair’s corporate sponsorship revenue and supervising the sales team. A search will begin for the position of Sponsorship and Corporate Events Coordinator, Schmitt’s previous position.

Schmitt will also work directly with the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation to grow capital funds to meet the long-term goals of the Kansas State Fair.

“Connie truly has the passion, drive, and desire to lead the sales team of the Kansas State Fair to assure continued future growth,” Bob Moeder, interim General Manager, said.

Schmitt has been with the fair since May 2007 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Fort Hays State University in 1982.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Transportation approved a bid for some work in Reno County.

The first project is on U.S. 50 from the west U.S. 50/K-61 junction, east 5.8 miles to
the concrete pavement at South Hutchinson.

KDOT also approved work on K-14 from the western Nickerson city limits, west to the Reno/Rice county line for crack repair on about 12.8 miles.

Scodeller Construction Co. of Wixom, Michigan, won the contract at a price of $225,084.20.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 38-year-old man was jailed late Monday night for allegedly threatening two men with a knife.

Matthew J. Gladu faces two possible charges of aggravated assault and possession of marijuana.

The incident occurred around 11:20 p.m. in the 1600 block of West 4th. He apparently pulled a kitchen knife from a knife block. Both men told police they felt threatened by Gladu.

He’s jailed on a $12,500 bond and will be back in court July 9.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One of the men shot on June 26 in the 500 block of North Washington is now jailed on a $500,000 bond and accused of first-degree murder.

Tristan Delaney, 18, is now charged with 26-year-old Curtis Garcia in the case.

Both were arrested in association with the shooting death of 18-year-old Norman Cushinberry.

The murder charge against Delaney indicates that the crime was in commission, attempt or flight from an inherently dangerous felony, that being the robbery of Garcia.

Police were called to the 500 block of North Washington on the report of a shooting and found Cushinberry in the street. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

After running to the vehicle with a shotgun, Delaney was shot. He fell to the street.

Cushinberry was shot and his body was pulled from the truck after a struggle inside.

Delaney was taken to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

Police found the shotgun Delaney had near Cushinberry’s body. Officers also found some .380-caliber shells at the scene and during a search of Garcia’s home. Officers say they found two handguns, one being a .380 caliber, the other a 9 mm.

Garcia is expected back in court on Friday. Delaney will be back in court on July 10.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson is partnering with Showalter Fireworks to bring this year’s community Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday, July 4, at 9:45 p.m. in the Kansas State Fairgrounds parking lot at 23rd and Plum. The spectacular firework display is free and open to the public.

City officials say no vehicle access will be allowed inside the 23rd and Plum parking lot, except for public safety vehicles. All other Kansas State Fair parking areas will be open and free to the public.

For safety reasons, the use of personal fireworks on the Kansas State Fairgrounds property is prohibited before, during and after the fireworks display.

An alternative date of Thursday, July 5, at 9:45 p.m. has been set in case of bad weather. Rescheduling information will be made available thanks to Eagle Communications on KWBW 1450 AM and 98.5 FM, Country 102.9, My 93-1, HutchPost.com and on the Hutch Post Facebook page.

Tune in to Country 102.9 Wednesday night and enjoy the patriotic music that will accompany this year’s show.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The civil motion for Charles Christopher Logsdon has been denied by District Judge Trish Rose.

Logsdon was sentenced by Judge Rose to 25 years to life for the murder of Jennifer Heckel with an additional 23 years for other crimes.

In his habeas corpus filing, Logsdon claimed he had newly discovered evidence and a number of items he felt should grant him relief from his conviction and sentence. Logsdon claimed there was prosecutor misconduct, an illegal arrest and warrant, an equal protection violation, that he was convicted of multiple charges — which under the law are the same — and ineffective counsel at both the trial and appellate levels.

He even claimed jury misconduct, faulty jury instructions, and disparity of plea offer. Logsdon said he did not receive the same plea offer of 14 years that was granted to co-defendant Billy Craig.

Judge Rose ruled that he didn’t meet his burden of proof to warrant even an evidentiary hearing on any of the issues and dismissed his motion.

Logsdon was convicted of shooting Heckel in her home on June 14, 2011.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Gas prices in the area are about 20 cents below the national average, which is $2.86 per gallon for regular unleaded, but just above the state average of $2.64.

Most stations in Hutchinson and South Hutchinson have a price of $2.65 per gallon.

According to Triple A, this week’s gas price extremes in Kansas are in Howard, in Elk County, with the highest at $2.90 per gallon, while Galena in Cherokee County has the lowest at $2.42 per gallon.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 34-year-old Hutchinson man who wanted to withdraw his plea in an aggravated battery case had his request denied Thursday by Judge Tim Chambers.

Chauncey Brownfield was then sentenced to just under two years in prison for attacking Cale Bookout back on Dec. 15, 2015. The victim reportedly suffered a fractured eye socket.

The sentence will run consecutively to other convictions including an aggravated battery case that goes back to March 6, 2015, here in Reno County, and a conviction from Saline County on a charge of aggravated battery for an incident in May of 2014.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man charged for drug distribution in February of 2015 was sentenced Friday to 7 1/2 years in prison, then granted three years community corrections.

Bryan Green pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell in one case and failure to register as a drug offender in the other.

At the time of his arrest, Green had a seller’s quantity of methamphetamine, as well as paraphernalia. He also had a small amount of marijuana and gave the false name of Shawn Green.

Green has previous convictions involving the manufacture of methamphetamine and associated charges in Reno, Rice, and Harvey counties.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Judge Trish Rose granted a request for the mental evaluation of a man charged with first-degree murder in a hit-and-run accident.

Taylor Lakone is accused of hitting Jose Lopez, who was on a bicycle, with his car.

His attorney, Shannon Crane, wants the mental evaluation to see if Lakone is competent to stand trial. She was also granted permission to hire an investigator for the case.

The fatal incident happened in the 1200 block of East 4th back on Sept. 21 of last year. Lopez was taken to a Wichita hospital, where he died from multiple blunt-force injuries.

Darion Maxey, Lakone’s best friend, testified at the preliminary hearing that Lakone struck Lopez because Lopez struck his mother with a lead pipe.

Lakone is free on bond. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 18.